Locking-clamp.



J. C. BACKUS.

LOCKING CL'AMP.

APPLICATION HLED JUNE 11, ms.

Patented Oct. 12, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

N l JG BCLCZMJ.

J. c. BACKU-S.

LOCKING CLAMP.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1:. 1915.

1,156,739. Patented Oct. 12, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2l CIGBQGEUJS.

momma LOCKING-CLAMP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 12, 1915.

Application filed June 11, 1915. Serial No. 33,583.

Be it known that I, Jonx CLAY'roN BAcKUs,'citizen of the United States, residing at Smethport, in the county of Mclxean and State of Pennsylvania, have Invented certain new and useful Improvements n Locking-Clamps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to locks and chiefly to the type embodying pivoted aws and a locking mechanism for holding them against spreading from either one of a plurality of positions, said. locking mechanism belng adapted to be released by the action of a kev.

The invention is designed more particularly as an improvement on the locking clamp for which letters patent of the United States were granted to L. C. Tingley, March 26, 1912, No. 1,021,3l3 and has for its object to improve, simplify and render more practical the lock mechanism and the case therefor forming elements of the jaws, whereby the parts may be stamped from sheet metal of proper gage and easily assembled, thereby producing a locking clamp which is light, strong, durable and effective for the purpose intended.

With these/and other objects in view, which will readily appear as the nature of the invention isbetter understood, the same consists in the improved construction and novel arrangement and combination. of parts which will be hereinafter fully described and-particularly claimed. y

In the accompanying drawings has been illustrated a simple and preferred form of the invention, itbeing, however, understood that no limitation is necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited, but that changes, alterations and modifications within the scope of the invention as claimed desired.

Referring to the drawings,-Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved locking clamp; Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of the device, the parts being separated and disposed in a group; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of thedevice in the plane of the jaws through the locking mechanism, the outer ends of the jaws being broken away; Fig. {l is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 looking to the left; Fig. 5 is a section on the line 55 of Fig. 3 looking to the right, the toothed segments being in full lines;

may be resorted to when Fig. 6 is a section similar to Fig. 3 showing the pivoted jaw released by the action of the key; Fig. 7 is a horizontal section on the line 7 7"of Fig. 6; Figs. 8, 9, 10 and 11 are detail views showing some of the uses and applications of the invention.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The locking clamp comprises two jaws 1 and 2 which are pivotally connected at 3. The jaw 1 is relatively fixed whereas the jaw 52 is movable and will be designated hereinafter as the pivoted jaw. These jaws are preferably formed ofsheet metal, such as steel of proper gage, being stamped and longitudinally ribbed and flanged .to insure stiffness and rigidity. The extremities of the aws are formed with matching teeth to form a suture. so as to prevent the article clamped between the aws from being drawn secured. The pivoted jaw 2 is formed with' toothed segments 4: which extend in parallel relation and are apertured to receive the pin 3 by means of which the jaw 2 is pivotally connected to the jaw 1. The teeth formed upon the outeredges of the seg ments 4 are of the ratchet type to admit of the jaw closing but preventing the same from spreading by cooperation with the locking mechanism of which the ratchet teeth form a part. The jaw 1 is formed with parallel wings 5 between which are received the toothed segments 4, the latter lying close against the inner faces of the wings 5. thereby preventing any relative lateral play of the jaws. The wings 5 like thetoothed segments 4 constitute parts of the respective jaws. The wings 5 and the adjacent end portion of the jaw 1 constitute parts of a case for housing the locking A plate 6 closes the upper end of the case and the end adjacent the pivoted jaw 2 is bent to form a close joint therewith so as to prevent the-locking mechanism from being tamperedwith. A plate 7 closes the lower end of the case and the end of such plate adjacent the pivoted jaw is bent for a purpose similar to the bending of-the end of the upper plate 6. A pin 8 has its end portions reduced and supported by the wings 5 and. this pin receives dogs 9 which are loosely mounted upon the reduced ends of the pin 8 and are held in proper position between the shoulders near the ends of the pin 8 and the Wings 5. Each of the dogs 9 is formed with toothed extensions 10 which are adapted to engage the ratchet teeth of the segments 4 and hold the jaws against spreading when such jaws are pressed together to grip an article placed between them. The teeth of the dogs 9 are of the ratchet type and ride upon the teethof the segments 4 when closing the jaws but the teeth interlocking to prevent spreading of the jaws. Each of the dogs 9 is further formed with a lateral extension 11 which projects inward away from the adjacent wing 5 so as to be engaged by the proper key 12 and operated thereby to release the pivoted jaw and admit of the opening of the jaws so as to release the article held between them. .A partition 13 has its longitudinal edge portion bent to provide flanges and is secured against the inner face of the front wall of the lock case, said partition being spaced from the inner face of the front wall by means of the flanges at opposite edges thereof so as to form a key-space intowhich the key 12 is inserted when it is desired to release the locking mechanism and admit of the jaws spreading. The partition 13 is formed with wards which cooperate with properly formed grooves and slots in the key 12, as indicated most clearly in Fig. 2. These wards may be variously positioned so that each lock will require a special key to admit of its opening. The partition 13 is for-med at its lower end with a lateral tongue 14 which is adapted to engage the middle portion of a flat spring 15 by means of which the dogs 9 are normally held in engagement with the toothed segments 4. The. extremities of the spring 15 engage the swinging ends of the dogs 9, the latter being shouldered, as indicated at 16, toengage the edge of the spring 15 and retain the latter in place. As shown most clearly in Figs. 3,6 and 7 the spring 15 is disposed in the rear of the partition 13 and out of line with the key space. The lower corners of the partition 13 are cut away to provide clearance for the extremities of the dogs!) which project across the key space'to be engaged by the key 12 when pressed downward to release the locking mechanism and admit of the jaws spreading.

To prevent picking of the lock a guard 17 is disposed upon the rear side of the partition and is attached at its upper end thereto. As shown, a keeper 18 is partly cut from the'partition and pressed rearwardly therefrom and receives the upper reduced end of the guard 17. A tongue 19 is partly cut from the giilard 17 and pressed forwardly there= from and extends through an opening 20 formed in the partition 13. The tongue 19 is forwardly and downwardly inclined and extends across the key-space to be engaged by the lower end of the key when the latter is pressed into the lock case. The guard 17 is formed at its lower end with forward projections 21 which overlap the laterally extending ends 11 of the dogs 9, thereby preventing operation of such dogs by unauthorized means. When the proper key 12 is introduced into the key-space and pressed home therein it rides upon the inclined tongue 19 and presses the lower end of the guard 17 rearward, thereby withdrawing the projections 21 from the path of the key and admitting of the latter engaging the forwardly extending ends 11 of the dogs 9 whereby the latter are actuated to release the pivoted jaw 2 which automatically flies open by the action of a spring 22 which is of the coil type and has opposite end portions projecting and engaging the pivoted jaw and the rear portion of the lower plate 7, as indicated most clearly in Figs. 3 and 6. The guard 17 preferably consists of a spring plate the inherent resiliency of which normally holds the tongue 19 and projections 21 in the path of the key 12 and across the key space. The spring 22 is preferably formed of a'length of wire which'is doubled upon itself and has its end portions formed into coils which are slipped upon opposite end portions of the pin 3. When the pivoted jaw 2 is closed the tension of the spring 22 is increased and when the jaw 2 is released the spring 22 automatically throws the jaw open, thereby releasing the article clamped between the extremities or lips of the jaws.

Fig. 11 illustrates one application of the locking clamp which secures a cover or robe to the spud or filling tube of a motor vehicle radiator. Fig. 8 shows a hat and robe secured to a rail attached to the back of a seat. Fig. 9 illustrates a control lever clamped to a spoke of the steering wheel of a motor vehicle. Fig. 10 shows a hand grip or like device secured to a foot rail the jaws of the clamp embracing the rail and handle of the grip.

Other uses and applicationsof the invention will. readily suggest themselves as occasion may require, it being understood that the jaws of the device are of such a nature as to embrace a rail or other projecting part and at the same time clamp the article be tween the tips of the jaws in a manner to prevent lateral withdrawal of the article. As the jaws are pressed together to grip the article the ratchet teeth of the segments 4 ride upon the toothed ends 10 of the dogs 9, thereby preventing the spreading of the jaws from any one of the several adjusted positions of such jaws determined bythe ratchet teeth of the segments 4. It is thus possible to press the jaws together so as to clamp articles of different sizes within the capacity of the clamp. When it is required to obtain the article the key 12 is introduced into the key space and pressed home therein, thereby operating the dogs 9 and moving their toothed ends away from the toothed edges of the segments i with the result that the pivoted jaw is released and instantly and automatically fliesopen under the action of the spring 22 in the manner stated.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is i 1. A clamp comprising pivoted jaws, a key operated locking mechanism for holding the jaws against spreading from either one of a plurality of positions, and a guard comprising projecting parts one of such parts normally obstructing access to thelocking mechanism and the remaining projecting. part being inclined to ride upon the proper key and admit of the obstructing part being withdrawn from the path of the key when introducing the same into the lock to effect release of the jaws.

2. A clamp comprising pivoted jaws, the pivotal end of the jaws forming opposed inclosing walls, upper and lower plates closing the space formed between the side walls to form a case and a key operated looking mechanism disposed within such case and adapted to prevent spreading ofthe jaws from either one of a plurality of positions.

3. A clamp comprising a fixed jaw hav ing spaced side wings at one end, a pivoted jaw having toothed segments at one end which are disposed within the wings of the fixed jaw, locking dogs carried by the fixed jaw and adapted to engage the toothed segments to hold the jaws against spreading from either one of a plurality of positions, and a key for effecting simultaneous release of the locking dogs from the toothed segments.

4. A clamp comprising a fixed jawhaving transversely spaced wings, a pivoted jaw provided with transversely spaced toothed segments arranged to lie against the inner faces of the said wings, a partition disposed within the space formed between the front and rear walls comprised between the pivotal ends of the jaws and forming a key-space, and locking means adapted to coact with the toothed segmentsand adapted to be actuated by a key'inserted in the said key space. 1

5. A clamp comprising pivoted jaws having their pivotal ends spaced apart, a toothed segment upon one of the jaws, a partition disposed in the space formed between the pivoted ends of the jaws to form a key-space, a locking device arranged to ing their pivotal ends spaced apart, a tooth-- ed segment upon one of the jaws, a partition disposed between the pivotal ends of the jaws and forming a key space, a locking device disposed to coact with the toothed segment and releasable by means of a key, and a guard mounted upon the partition and having projecting portions, one obstructing entrance to the locking device and the other adapted to be engaged by the key to with draw the key obstructing projection from the path of the key when introduced to effect release of the locking device.

7. A clamp comprising a fixed jaw, a pivoted jaw provided with transversely spaced toothed segments, a partition disposed between the pivotal ends of the jaws to form a key space, dogs arranged to coact with the toothed segments and having portions extending across the key space, and a guard having projecting portions normally obstructing entrance to the dogs and adapted to be actuated by the proper key to effect Withdrawal of the obstructing parts from the passage of the key when introduced to e'fi'ect release of the dogs from the toothed segments.

8. A clamp comprising pivoted jaws, toothed segments upon one of the jaws, a partition arranged between the pivotal ends of the jaws and forming a key-space and having a projection, key operated dogs disposed uponopposite sides of the projection of the partition and disposed to coact with the toothed segments, and a flat spring supported by the projection of the partition and having its ends engaging the said dogs.

9. A clamp comprising pivoted jaws, transversely spaced toothed segments upon one of the jaws, pivoted dogs disposed to coact with thetoothed segments and formed with stop shoulders, a partition disposed between the pivotal ends of the jaws and inclosing a key space and formed with a projection, and a flat spring supported between its ends upon the projection of the partition and having its ends engaging the dogs and abutting against the stop shoulders thereof.

10. A clamp comprising a fixed jaw having transversely spaced wings, a pivoted jaw closing the space formed between the wings of the fixed jaw and formed with toothed segments which are disposed tolie against the inner faces of the said wings, upper and lower plates closing the space between the wings above and below the toothed segments, a partition arranged within the inclosed space a short distance from the front Wall to form a key space, dogs inclosed Within the space and disposed to coact .with the toothed segments and having portions extending across the key space and adapted to be engaged by a proper key to effect simultaneous release from the toothed segments, and a spring normally holding the dogs yieldingly in engagement with the toothed segments.

11. A clamp comprising pivoted jaws, one of such jaws being provided With trans- -verselyspaced toothed segments, dogs disposed to coact with the toothed segments and having projecting parts to be engaged by a key to effect release of the dogs from the toothed segments, and a partition disposed between the pivotal ends of the dogs to form a key space and having portions cut away to receive the projecting parts of the dogs.

12. A clamp comprising pivoted jaws, one of such jaws being provided with transversely. spaced toothed segments, dogs dis- )osed to coact with the toothed segments and having projecting parts to be engaged by a key to effect release of the dogs from the toothed segments, a partition disposed between the pivotal ends of the dogs to form a key space and having portions cut away to receive the projecting parts of the dogs, and also formed with a lateral projection intermediate the cut away portions, and a flat spring supported upon the lateral projection of the, partition and having its ends engaging the said dogs.

JOHN CLAYTON BACKUS. [L- 8-] 

